88S30301 MZM-D By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 36 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to waiving certain driver's license fees for applicants who are first responders. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 521.1813 to read as follows: Sec. 521.1813. WAIVER OF CERTAIN FEES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) In this section, "first responder" means: (1) a peace officer, as defined by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency; (2) fire protection personnel, as defined by Section 419.021, Government Code; (3) a volunteer firefighter who performs firefighting duties on behalf of a political subdivision and who is not serving as a member of the legislature or holding a statewide elected office; (4) an ambulance driver; or (5) an individual certified as emergency medical services personnel by the Department of State Health Services. (b) A person is exempt from the payment of any fee for the issuance of an original or renewal driver's license, as provided under this chapter, if at the time of the application for an original or renewal driver's license the person submits to the department satisfactory evidence that the person is a first responder. (c) The department shall establish a record of the amount of the fees waived under this section that would otherwise be deposited to the credit of the Texas mobility fund. (d) On or before the fifth workday of each month, the department, using available funds, shall remit to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the Texas mobility fund general revenue in an amount equal to the amount of the fees described by Subsection (c) in the preceding month. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an application for an original or renewal driver's license submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An application submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.